Baby Kochamma

“There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.”

-          Madeleine K. Albright

This quote came to mind while reading this section and Baby Kochamma actions. We, as the reader, were able to learn more about the circumstances of Sophie Mol’s death and the controversy surrounding that night. We find out that Velutha and Ammu’s affair is the proponent of all of the tragedy that occurs to the family, however the affect that it has is largely controlled by the two main females of the household: Mammachi and Baby Kochamma.

A constant theme throughout The God of Small Things has been the unfortunate lot in life that many of the women receive. Whether this is being abused by their husbands, being ostracized by their community, being expected to give sexual satisfaction to their bosses, or simply being unloved, almost all of the women within the family and outside of it suffer. Roy sometimes touches on these pains subtly, such as Chacko’s eyeing of another man’s wife, and sometimes directly, such as Ammu’s abusive father, but is very consistent in keeping it in the back of the reader’s mind.

This theme became very prevalent to me in this section of reading because much of Ammu’s, and Margaret’s, pain is amplified by the treatment of the situation by Baby Kochamma. She is someone who clings to pain and wants to constantly hurt those around her because she has such utter disappointment with her life. Instead of focusing inward, she looks to lash out at others in a very vindictive manner. In fact, Baby Kochamma’s plan reminds me of the stepmother in Cinderella. A woman who loves someone she shouldn’t, being locked in her room, having her story distorted when explained to the authorities by the villain. Going one step further, Ammu’s forbiddance of loving Velutha is caused by society’s enforcement of class, just as Cinderella scorned for loving outside of her status. Yet, the main caused of Cinderella’s problems are her stepmother’s hate toward both Cinderella and how her own life has turned out. Similarly, Baby Kochamma uses her hate, especially of her own life, as a weapon and motivation to hurt those around her.

Baby Kochamma’s perpetuation of Ammu’s pain greatly angered me. To me, one of the most despicable acts that a female can commit is belittling the pain of her fellow women, while not only ignoring it, but encouraging it. Angrily causing others pain contributes to how problems, such as unfair treatment of fellow human beings, continue. Baby Kochamma refuses to recognize this and actively works to put down those around her. Her indifference toward the pain of others and her actions make her, in my opinion, a truly deplorable human being.